Chарtеr 19 (5/15)
Whilе vеrbаl sрarring filled thе Вlаdе Мaster Hаll, thе atmosрhere in Хuе Маnоr wаs tense.
Хue Zhongzi tended to Yun Weishаn’s wоunds, using tweеzers tо ехtrаct thе hiddеn wеарon еmbedded in her shоuldеr bladе. After cаreful eхaminatiоn, hе shооk his hеаd. “Тhe prоjеctilе shаttеred uрon imраct and frаgmеnted furthеr with a detonаtor, making its originаl fоrm unrеcоgnizable.”
Young Маstеr Xuе nоddеd. “Тhis stееl-forgеd blаde is аs thin as а cicаda’s wing, ехquisitеly сrаftеd. It is undоubtedly Gong Yuаnzhi’s hidden weapon.”
Хue Zhongzi plаced thе bloоdstаined, bluе-green glinting fragment on a jade tray and instructed Young Master Xue to store it. Young Master Xue produced thick oiled paper and carefully wrapped the fragment.
Yun Weishan had long since fallen unconscious, her body burning with fever, lips drained of color.
Young Master Xue asked with concern, “How is she?”
Xue Zhongzi sighed. “I’ve already given her Snow Lotus, but she can hold on for two days at most… Only Gong Yuanzhi himself can cure the poison he uses…”
“What exactly happened? How did she end up fighting Gong Yuanzhi? And what about the Blade Master? Was he injured? Ah, this is agonizing. Should I go to the Front Mountain to check?” Young Master Xue grew anxious.
Xue Zhongzi said, “You are not an Elder; you cannot go to the Front Mountain. Go pick a few more Snow Lotuses… from the Frost Lotus Pond…”
“These damned, ridiculous rules,” Young Master Xue muttered as he headed out. “Fine, fine, I’ll pick a few more… Gong Ziyu, next time you’d better bring me more candied fruit…”
The atmosphere in the Blade Master Hall grew even more oppressive. Everyone watched as Elder Yue wrote the formula for the Truth-Testing Herb on rice paper.
After finishing the last character, Elder Yue set down his brush and handed the paper to Gong Shangjue.
Gong Shangjue passed it to Gong Yuanzhi. “Brother Yuanzhi, please prepare the medicine to clear Elder Yue’s name. If the Truth-Testing Herb proves effective, Gong Ziyu and I will both take it and submit to the Elders’ interrogation.”
Gong Ziyu remained silent. Jin Fan’s expression was grave.
Gong Yuanzhi, a faint smile on his lips, took the prescription. After glancing at it twice, his smile vanished swiftly. He angrily set down the still ink-scented paper and said bitterly, “He did this on purpose!”
Gong Shangjue turned to look at Gong Yuanzhi, and soon his own gaze shifted from puzzlement to concealed anger.
Gong Yuanzhi said, “Thousand-Spore Puff, Buddha-Questioning Tangerine, Four-Leaf Devil’s Needle Grass… all are exceedingly rare! Buddha-Questioning Tangerines bear fruit only once every four years, and only one in ten thousand Three-Leaf Devil’s Needle Grass plants produces a four-leaf variant. Moreover, these are not ordinary ingredients used for making poisons or antidotes; the pharmacy has no stock… What’s worse, the final ingredient he listed is… the Cloud-Piercing Twin Lotus!”
Elder Yue glanced at them and said, “That is precisely why I said the Truth-Testing Herb is difficult to produce and cannot be mass-produced. I certainly did not hoard it intentionally.”
Gong Shangjue sneered coldly. “No matter. There is more than just the Truth-Testing Herb in this world that can make people tell the truth. Brother Yuanzhi and I are equally capable of making people speak truthfully.”
Gong Shangjue’s gaze sent chills down the spine. After he spoke these words, the expressions of many in the hall changed.Gong Shangjue raised his voice, "We've been arguing for so long that we've strayed far from the point. The core of our dispute is the Wufeng spy, Yun Weishan! She is the one who should be interrogated. Yet, she is currently missing. So, Younger Brother Ziyu, you'd better tell us immediately where Yun Weishan is. Otherwise, we can only assume the bride has defected or disappeared, and the entire House of Gong will be placed on high alert for a thorough mountain search!"
Elder Hua asked, "Blade Master, do you know where Yun Weishan is?"
It was only then that Gong Yuanzhi remembered this crucial detail and nearly shouted, "Yun Weishan was hit by my hidden weapon and likely won't survive past tomorrow... So, Elder Brother Ziyu, you'd better tell us where she is. Don't worry, to ensure we can interrogate her properly, I'll make sure she doesn't die..."
"Younger Brother Zhi, stop making baseless accusations. After dinner, I sent Miss Yun to the Back Mountain to Young Master Xue's place to fetch a few Snow Lotuses for me. She is currently at Xue Manor." Gong Ziyu had to keep up this lie, buying as much time as possible.
Gong Shangjue shook his head at Gong Ziyu, "Whether Yun Weishan is a Wufeng spy will be revealed after interrogation. When Shangguan Qian was suspected earlier, wasn't she also thrown into prison and interrogated by me personally? I hope Ziyu sets an example and avoids favoritism. If Yun Weishan truly is a Wufeng spy, I urge you to wake up in time! But if Gong Ziyu knowingly protects her, blinded by her beauty and disregarding the safety of the entire House of Gong family, then he is not just a fool but a traitor to the Gong clan for all eternity! I, Gong Shangjue, act solely for the public good, and I hope it's the former. Otherwise, this will be the last time I call you 'Younger Brother Ziyu'."
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